Waikiki Health Center held a blessing ceremony yesterday for its new mobile clinic for the homeless, which will allow patients to be seen in a private exam room and undergo everything from routine physicals to more complicated exams.

The clinic cost about $110,000, most of which came from federal funds.

It will be at set locations two to three times a week, and see as many as 90 patients a month.

Waikiki Care-a-Van, a program of the Waikiki Health Center, will operate the clinic. The program has been relying on two mini-vans to get medical services and other assistance to dozens of homeless islandwide. Those mini-vans will still be in service in certain parts of the island.

Darlene Hein, program director for the Care-a-Van, said the mobile clinic — which even has a waiting area and a bathroom — has been out twice for trial runs and has gotten rave reviews. "This allows for privacy," she said. "It takes it to the next level because we can do full medical exams."

Hein said the clinic is unique to O'ahu.

The van is equipped with all the medical equipment expected of a clinic.

It even has a refrigerator to keep some medications cool.

She said the mobile clinic could also host events for flu shots, back-to-school shots and reproductive health. The clinic will be staffed by nursed practitioners, who can prescribe medication as well as give exams. Hein said the clinic is designed to provide more health care to those that need it the most, and families "who have trouble accessing traditional medical care."

Kahu Curt Kekuna, of Kawaiaha'o Church, delivered the blessing for the van yesterday in Kaka'ako, in front of Waikiki Health Center employees and friends of the nonprofit. The clinic should be back on the road right away, seeing patients as well as educating people on social services that could help them get better access to health care, food and even housing.

Waikiki Care-a-Van has been providing services to O'ahu's homeless since 1987.

Reach Mary Vorsino at mvorsino@honoluluadvertiser.com.